Buddleia plant named ‘Hinebud3’

ABSTRACT

A  Buddleia  plant particularly distinguished by low-growing and densely branched, large, pure-white inflorescences that flower soon after propagation, and dark foliage, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Buddleia hybrid (complex hybrid of Buddleiadavidii×Buddleia alternifolia×Buddleia caryopterifolia×Buddleialindleyana×Buddleia crispa).

Variety denomination: ‘Hinebud3’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Buddleia,botanically known as Buddleia hybrid, and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘Hinebud3’. The new variety originated from across-pollination conducted in Winters, Calif. in August 2010 betweenthe female Buddleia parent, an un-named seedling (unpatented) and themale Buddleia parent, an un-named seedling (unpatented). A single plantselection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation and asexualpropagation in Winters, Calif.

The new plant was first asexually propagated in June 2011 in Winters,Calif. and has been asexually reproduced by cuttings for two years inWinters, Calif. The present invention has been found to retain itsdistinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations bysoftwood cuttings.

‘Hinebud3’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than oneyear prior to the filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticulturalpractices in Winters, Calif.

-   -   1. Low-growing and densely branched;    -   2. Large, pure-white inflorescences that flower soon after        propagation; and    -   3. Dark foliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Buddleia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the overall plant habit, foliage and inflorescence of theplant. The colors are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a15-month-old plant grown in a greenhouse and outdoors in Winters, Calif.in May 2012.

FIG. 1 shows the whole plant, including the habit, foliage andinflorescence.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the inflorescence and foliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Hinebud3’. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inWinters, Calif. The plant history was taken in May 2012 on two-year oldplants grown outdoors in Winters, Calif. Color references were takenunder natural light and are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), fifth edition (2007) or to theThe R.H.S. mini chart (2005) as indicated. Texture descriptions weretaken using a dissecting microscope.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Scrophulariaceae.        -   Botanical name.—Buddleia hybrid (complex hybrid of Buddleia            davidii×Buddleia alternifolia×Buddleia            caryopterifolia×Buddleia lindleyana×Buddleia crispa).        -   Common name.—Butterfly bush.        -   Denomination.—‘Hinebud3’.-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Bush, oval-shaped.        -   Habit.—Compact, well-branched shrub.        -   Height (measured from the top of the soil).—122.0 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—135.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished plant.—12 weeks from a softwood            cutting.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Prefers full sun, USDA zones 5-9.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—About 8 to 10 days.        -   Root description and habit.—White (RHS 155B), fibrous, dense            and branching.        -   Propagation type.—Softwood cuttings.-   Lateral branches:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—Approximately 80.        -   Length.—About 50.0 cm to 60.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—3.0 cm.        -   Diameter (from midpoint).—About 0.5 cm to 0.7 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 139C.        -   Strength.—Strong and somewhat flexible.        -   Texture.—Tomentose.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.-   Leaves:    -   -   Quantity of leaves per branch.—About 16 to 24.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Length.—10.0 cm to 12.0 cm.        -   Width.—3.0 cm to 3.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Color, immature.—Upper surface: RHS 139A. Lower surface: RHS            191C.        -   Color, mature.—Upper surface: RHS 139A. Lower surface: RHS            191B.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Mostly glabrous but with scattered            stellate trichomes. Lower surface: Densely floccose with            stellate trichomes.        -   Venation type.—Arcuate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 138D. Lower surface: RHS            138C.        -   Petiole.—Color: RHS 138C. Length: 0.2 cm. Diameter: 0.16 cm.            Texture: Floccose.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Height.—18.0 cm to 20.0 cm.        -   Width.—8.0 cm to 10.0 cm.        -   Bud.—Color: RHS N999 (using The R.H.S. mini color chart) at            top and RHS 11C along the corolla. Shape: Tetragonal.            Height: 1.0 cm from calyx to tip. Diameter: 0.175 cm.        -   Flower.—Type and habit: Single and salverform shaped flowers            arranged in compound terminal panicles; flowers face upright            and outward; panicles are roughly conical in shape;            branching is thyrse, up to four times on the basal half.            Fragrance: Sweet and pleasant. Flowering season: May to            September in USDA zones 5-9; continuous all year in USDA            zones 10-11. Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant:            About 10 to 14 days. Depth: 0.4 cm to 0.5 cm. Width: 0.8 cm.            Quantity per inflorescence: 1100 to 1500. Petals:            Arrangement and quantity per flower: Four arranged in a            single whorl but occasionally, there are 5 petals on flowers            on the distal portion of the inflorescence; the petals fused            into a narrow tube; the petals are flat allowing the inside            of the corolla to be visible. Length: 0.4 cm (from the top            of the fused corolla, the corolla length is 1.1 cm). Width:            1.0 cm. Shape: Rounded. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Fused into the            corolla tube. Margin: Crenate. Texture: Upper surface:            Papillate with hispid trichomes at the base going down into            the inside of the corolla. Lower surface: Less ocpillate            than surface with scattered clusters of stellate trichomes            along the outer margin. Color, when opening (using The            R.H.S. mini color chart): Upper surface: RHS 999D. Lower            surface: RHS 999D. Color, when open (using The R.H.S. mini            color chart): Upper surface: RHS 999D. Lower surface: RHS            999D. Tube: Length: 1.1 cm. Width: 0.2 cm to 0.13 cm at the            base. Color: Inside: RHS 155D. Outside: RHS 157B. Texture:            Inside: Setose hairs perpendicular to the surface. Outside:            Papillate with downward pointing strigose trichomes. Calyx:            Arrangement and quantity: Four sepals arranged in a single            whorl and fused towards the base. Shape: Tubular, appressed            to the corolla tube. Sepals: Length: 0.4 cm. Width: 0.1 cm.            Shape: Fused into a tube. Apex: Acute. Base: Rounded. Other:            There are one or often two very minute sepal-like appendages            at the base where the calyx fuses to the peduncle; they are            loosely appressed to the calyx tube and are falcate in            shape, occasionally being deeply bi-furcated in which case            the inside margin of this clefted part is deeply incised,            while the outer edge is entire to crenulate; they are            closely paired and appear on only one side of the calyx and            together are less than one-fourth the width of the            circumference of the calyx tube; they are 0.05 cm to 0.1 cm            long and 0.001 cm to 0.003 cm wide; there are also            occasional 0.5 cm to 0.8 cm long falsate leaves extending at            the base where the calyx fuses to the peduncle that can be            0.05 cm to 0.09 cm wide, loose and following the same            contour of the calyx at a 20° to 30° angle from the base.            Margin: Crenulate. Texture: Upper surface: Papillate with            stellate hairs. Lower surface: Papillate. Color: Upper            surface: RHS 139D. Lower surface: RHS 139A. Peduncle:            Length: About 3.0 cm to 5.0 cm. Diameter: 0.09 cm. Strength:            Flexible. Color: RHS 139C. Texture: Very floccose. Pedicel:            Length: 0.2 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS 139C. Texture:            Floccose.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: 4. Filament: Completely fused            to inside of corolla tube; cannot determine length or color.            Anther: Length: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS 4D. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: RHS 4D.        -   Pistil.—Quantity per flower: 1. Length: 0.2 cm. Stigma:            Shape: Long and clefted. Color: RHS 137C. Style: Length:            0.1 cm. Color: RHS 192B. Ovary: Color: RHS 145A.-   Fruit and seed set: Moderate to low. Seeds are elongated    football-shaped, 0.1 cm to 0.15 cm long, and RHS 158A in color.-   Disease and insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETY

‘Hinebud3’ differs from the un-named female Buddleia parent (unpatented)in that ‘Hinebud3’ is shorter than the female parent (‘Hinebud3’ isabout 4 feet or less in height, while the female parent is about 12 to15 feet in height). Additionally, ‘Hinebud3’ has white flowers withlight yellow centers and a compact plant habit, while the female parenthas pink/mauve flowers with orange center and an open and loose planthabit.

‘Hinebud3’ differs from the male Buddleia parent (unpatented) in that‘Hinebud3’ is shorter than the male parent (‘Hinebud3’ is about 4 feetor less in height, while the male parent is about 5 to 6 feet tall).Additionally, ‘Hinebud3’ has white flowers with light yellow centers,while the male parent has lilac flowers with orange centers.

‘Hinebud3’ differs from the commercial comparison ‘White Profusion’(unpatented) in that ‘Hinebud3’ is shorter than ‘White Profusion’(‘Hinebud3’ is about 4 feet or less in height, while ‘White Profusion’is 15 to 18 feet tall). Additionally, ‘Hinebud3’white has white flowerswith light yellow eyes, dark green leaves, and a very tight and compactplant habit, while ‘White Profusion’ has white flowers with yellowishtones and orange eyes, light green leaves, and a loose and large planthabit.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Buddleia plant as shown anddescribed herein.